Thin film optical detectors for retinal implantation and methods for making and using same

A method for capturing optical microdetectors for improved surgical handling during implantation into an eye comprising the steps of:

• forming an optically active thin film heterostructure deposited on a removable support, where the heterostructure comprises a conductive layer and an optically active layer formed on top of the conductive layer;
• patterning an array of microdetectors on the heterostructure using negative photoresist lithography;
• removing those areas of the heterostructure not patterned during the negative photoresist lithography by ion milling to form an array of optical microdetectors on the substrate, where each microdetector has a diameter of about 5 microns to about 500 microns;
• forming a biodegradable carrierr layer on top of the array, where the bio-polymer is less than about 500 microns thick;
• and
• removing the substrate to form a retinal implant comprising an array of micro detectors on or in the carrier,
• where the implant has improved surgical handling characteristic for implantation into the subretinal region of an eye of an animal including a human.

A method of surgically implanting optical microdetectors into an eye comprising the steps of:

• providing an implant comprising an array of optical microdetectors on or in a biodegradable carrier;
• implanting the implant into a subretinal implantation site on the eye;
• and
• biodegrading the carrier so that the optical microdetectors are surgically implanted at the site in a proper orientation and array configuration within the site,
• where the microdetectors are capable of converting light energy into electrical energy sufficient to activate at least one bipolar cell at the implantation site.

A method of converting light energy into electrical energy using an implant implanted in a retinal site of an eye of an animal including a human comprising the steps of:

• providing an implant comprising an array of optical microdetectors on or in a biodegradable carrier;
• implanting the implant into a subretinal implantation site on the eye;
• and
• biodegrading the carrier so that the optical microdetectors are surgically implanted at the site in a proper orientation and array configuration within the site,
• converting light energy absorbed by the microdetectors into electrical energy sufficient to activate at least one bipolar cell at the implantation site;
• communicating the activation to an optical center of a brain of the animal;
• and
• producing an optical response or sight.

A method for capturing optical microdetectors in an implant for improved surgical handling during implantation into an eye comprising the steps of:

• (1) forming an optically active thin film heterostructure on a top surface of a removable substrate;
• (2) patterning the thin film heterostructure to form an array comprising individual optically active, thin film, heterostructure microdetectors;
• (3) contacting the top surface of the substrate with the array thereon with a biodegradable polymer carrier;
• and (4) removing the removable substrate to form an implant comprising an array of optical microdetectors in a biodegradable polymer carrier, where the implant has improved surgical handling characteristics for implantation into the eye,
• where the heterostructure comprises a uniform composition or the heterostructure comprises a pattern of different compositions, each composition absorbing light in a different region of the visible light spectrum.

A method for capturing optical microdetectors in a structure that allows for improved handling during transfer and implantation into an eye comprising the steps of:

• (1) depositing a conductive layer on a top surface of a removable substrate;
• (2) forming a first pattern on a surface of conductive layer using positive or negative photoresist lithograph;
• (3) depositing a first optically active material on exposed regions of the conductive layer to form a first thin film heterostructure of the top surface of the substrate, where the first heterostructure comprises the conductive layer and the first optically active layer and the first material is sensitive to light in a first region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• (4) forming a second pattern on a surface of conductive layer using positive or negative photoresist lithograph;
• (5) depositing a second optically active material on exposed regions of the conductive layer to form a second thin film heterostructure of the top surface of the substrate, where the second heterostructure comprises the conductive layer and the second optically active layer and the second material is sensitive to light in a second region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• (6) forming a second pattern on a surface of conductive layer using positive or negative photoresist lithograph;
• (7) depositing a third optically active material on exposed regions of the conductive layer to form a third thin film heterostructure of the top surface of the substrate, where the third heterostructure comprises the conductive layer and the third optically active layer and the third material is sensitive to light in a third region of the electromagnetic spectrum;
• (8) patterning the heterostructure using negative photoresist lithography to form a patterned heterostructure;
• (9) removing those areas of the heterostructure not patterned during the negative photoresist lithography to form an array of optical active microdetectors comprising pluralities of microdetectors composed of each of the three heterostructures on the top surface of the substrate;
• (10) forming a biodegradable polymer film onto the top surface of the substrate including the optical microdetector array thereon to secure each microdetector in the array to or in the film;
• and (11) removing the substrate to form an implant comprising an array of optical microdetectors in a biodegradable polymer carrier, where the implant has improved surgical handling characteristics for implantation into the eye.